2019: Nigerians are with me — Buhari

ABUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari said, Sunday night in Lome Togo, that he decided to take a second shot at the Presidency because Nigerians were solidly behind him.

Buhari

Consequently, the President said he was not bothered about defection of All Progressives Congress, APC, members to opposition political parties because majority of Nigerians appreciate his government.

President Buhari said as a result of the efforts of his administration, many Nigerians will defend him and vote for his party in 2019 election.

While responding to a question during an interactive session with Nigerian community in Togo at Nigerian Embassy, Lome, he said ordinary Nigerians appreciate the performance of his administration.

According to him, “I am not bothered about the defections. Ordinary Nigerians have developed confidence in us and are defending us. I assure you, majority of Nigerians back home are appreciative of our efforts.”

Expressing delight in seeing Nigerians who had travelled from the five regions of Togo to welcome him in Lome, President Buhari said he was pleased to hear them commend the performance of his administration.

The President in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, assured them that his administration had remained steadfast in keeping to its three campaign promises of providing security, improving the economy and fighting corruption.

He noted that if past governments had utilised even 25 per cent of the huge oil revenue available to them, Nigerians would not be complaining today, citing the $16 billion reportedly spent on electricity and yet Nigerians could not see power.

In his welcome address, Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Joseph Iji, said the close to two million Nigerians in Togo were law-abiding and peaceful, even as he drew attention to the inability of the Nigerian Mission in Lome to issue Nigerian passports, making applicants to go to Ghana or Benin Republic.